San Francisco zoo incident sparks nationwide talk about animal safety

By Charles D. Perry - Charles D. Perry

A Christmas Day tiger attack at the San Francisco Zoo left one person dead and two others inured. The mauling sparked a nationwide discussion about zoo safety.

Rock Hill's Lea Jaunakais, who plans to open a tiger refuge in Rockwell, N.C., this summer, said the California zoo used a moat barrier to contain its tigers.

"I have always felt my whole life that moat exhibits are dangerous," Jaunakais said. "And they're not effective at housing animals such as a tiger. ... It gives them the perception that there is no wall. It gives them the perception that their boundaries are limitless. It gives them the perception that if I want something bad enough, I'm going to jump for it."

Photo 1: San Francisco zoo incident sparks nationwide talk about animal safety

In Jaunakais' tiger facility, which was approved last year by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, her chain link fences stand 14 feet high, with the last four feet bent in at about a 45 degree angle. Her enclosures also have an additional perimeter fence and other features that exceed federal standards, she said.

The idea behind the fence, she said, is that it provides the tigers with a visible barrier and the flexible material impairs the animal from scaling the wall.

But not everyone agrees with her about moat safety.

"It is extremely effective," said Alan Shoemaker, who retired from Columbia's Riverbanks Zoo five years ago after serving as the curator of mammals. "I worked at Riverbanks for 30 years. We use moats. ... It is extremely safe."